People die, even close friends

[nadinbrzezinski]

Some of you even ask, has this ever happened to you? Well YES

a medic, friend of mine and fellow training officer, died in a call, He was run over, in the previous shift to mine

The first thing we learned when going on duty was that he passed at the trauma bay. He left his young wife and a two year old behind. He died in the service of others... and that is no exaggeration.

It felt like a kick in the gut. Trust me, we wanted to just go home and cry ourselves dry.

We pulled ourselves together and worked our shift, and responded to calls. Patients didn't care, and they still needed us to respond and take care of their needs. Ethically we could not just abandon our post and tell people, call in three days, we are grieving.

The head of the local Red Cross chapter (mexican Red Cross) he died at home from a heart attack. He left barely an hour before, and it was sunday, he was worked on by doctors and medics but he was dead... while I was on shift

He was loved by all... and probably the best man many of us knew. A real leader and a real gentleman, who truly cared for us to have what we needed and went to great extents to get the financial resources we needed for simple things such as.. gas. He was also there to help when we needed an extra hand in the ER.

Again, it was a mule kick.... to our collective guts

We responded to calls. And nobody abandoned his or her post.

Both were buried, with full MILITARY honors, and flags were folded, the whole nine yards. We kept responding even though we were grieving for somebody we cared for, and he was a father, and a husband who left three children behind

Hell, I went from the cemetery when the President was laid to rest straight to a call wearing a full dress uniform, my crew was the closest to the place... and nobody had time to change shoes from dress to working boots. Hell, one of the few times I responded to a call waring a tie... and emotions were running high. We took care of our patient that day. and then went back to the station to change and go "officially" on shift

So no... I don't give them a pass. At least to me, given what is going on in the MidWest, they have abandoned their posts

And yes, they got a kick in the gut... they are not the first nor the last... and the same day that Russert passed at the job, I am positive many others did. And I am willing to bet that nobody stopped working to have a very public wake

Enough already.. there are people out there who are hurting right now...


Oh and Roberto... a salute to you... my friend, I have not thought of that cold day in a while. Señor Gonzales, the same... I have not thought of you either. I will raise a glass for you two my friends... and know full well that you two were proud of us... we honored you in due time, but we kept at our posts. And I will raise a glass to every other responder around the world who has died in the line of duty, and to the crews who kept at their posts. Duty... a strange concept for many folks, especially those who are very young.
RIP Tim, and if you were like any of the true pros I knew... you are shaking your head at the circus... Journos avoid becoming the story...

[Joe the Revelator]

1. You'd either be watching a show about prison on MSNBC right now or a tribute to Tim Russert

It sounds like you're bitter against MSNBC recognizing a death when people you know don't get to be on TV when they die. Thats just a strange mindset for you to have.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Is Russeet the President of the US? Who passed while in office?

Last time they went to this extent was when KENNEDY died... with Reagan they had the retrospectives but not to this extent

And then it was justifiable

Priorities... you don't have them

Perhaps you will get them once you have to pay what you have to pay for food.

[Joe the Revelator]

16. Waaaaa!

Its on ONE station, the station that Russert dedicated his life to, for one weekend. Stop being such a dope.

[stevedeshazer]

19. What a rotten attitude

Terrible post.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Sorry, we cannot respond to your emergency, since we lost one of our own

and quite frankly we need time to grieve.

Is that the attitude you want?

[TheWatcher]

40. Don't you have some corpse worship to get back to?

Insensitive Asshat.

She's done far more for community and people than you've ever even thought about doing.

[Joe the Revelator]

42. I'm sorry, when did we meet again?

Thats right, we didn't, so how about you stop being a hypocrite, and stop pretending what I've done for "community and people".

But by all means, keep worshiping at the alters of somebody's screen name. That will get you far.

[TheWatcher]

43. Believe me, I wouldn't want to.

I don't worship at the altar of anybody or anything. But I know a callous jerk when I see one.

You're Exhibit A.

And I stand by what I said with full confidence. Your comment was pointless and uncalled for.

Why don't YOU go Fuck Yourself and stop being an asshole to someone for no apparent reason.

[Joe the Revelator]

45. What kind of bizzaro world is this....

Where a person who thinks that paying tribute to the dead is called callous, and an obviously bitter person who gets angry at a network covering the death of their boss is held up as an example to strive for.

Also, if you going to get on me for pointless, uncalled for statements, you should really refrain from telling me to "go fuck myself (sic) " in the next line.

[TheWatcher]

46. Was I not clear enough the first time?

Please allow me to retort then.

GO FUCK YOURSELF. Now I can always post in much bigger font so that even you can understand it, but I hope that won't be necessary.

As for the rest of your blather, perhaps you would care to enlighten the class and point out painstakingly and in great detail exactly where the OP is saying that paying tribute to the Dead is callous.

Or perhaps you so conveniently missed her tribute to her friend, and her point point at the way Russert's coverage has all been so completely overdone and overkilled, while the Citizens of Iowa, Missouri, Southern Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin have been largely ignored not only by the Media, but seem to have gotten little in the way of assistance. It's like Katrina all over again. She made some very relevant points, but all you saw was whatever narrow little ninnying interpretation you wanted to see, so you could make your assholish little comment.

But, we wouldn't want to worry your beautiful little mind about anything like that.

By all means get back to whatever it was you were doing. SO sorry to inconvenience you.

For the record, I was no fan of Tim Russert as a journalist. I did not know him as a person, so therefore I can make no judgments. And I would never deny anyone or think it is a bad thing to pay Tribute to anyone who has passed. I feel for his family, as I would for any family who has lost a loved one.

My opinion of your comment remains unchanged.

Good Day.

[Joe the Revelator]

48. I think you may be crazy, but I'll trying to address your points in order

A. If you walk around telling folks on the internet to "go fuck themselves" then you are a child. You need to grow up and learn how to interact with people.

B. YOU are implying that my defense of the coverage of Russert's death is callous. I came to this conclusion based on your previous post calling me callous.

C. She used the death of her friend to say that "everybody hurts" and that nobody deserves to have their death coverage outside of her standard of what is "too much". That is just an absurd premise, and beyond bitter.

D. The citizens of Iowa, Missouri, Southern Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin have NOT been largely ignored. Their plight has been covered is GREAT detail on every channel BUT MSNBC. I'm sorry that if you think that if MSNBC doesn't cover something then it must not be happening, but that isn't how things work over here in the real world.

The rest of your post is mindless, immature, drivel not worth any further comment.

[TheWatcher]

49. And I'll do the same thing for you.

A. You talk about being a hypocrite. LOOK AT WHAT YOU ORIGINALLY WROTE. You posted not one personal attack but two. What you said was childish and uncalled for. It was completely unnecessary. It's amusing to see you defend yourself because you got called on being an asshole.

B. You came to this conclusion on your own. I called you out mainly for being an ass to the OP, which was uncalled for. As for your defense the coverage on Russert's death, you are entitled to your opinion. You should be able to do that without being a childish asshat. It appears that you are unable to do so.

C. No that is your interpretation of what she said. That is what is absurd. That is hardly what she means, and again, I ask you to point out where such an assertion was made.

D. We must be living on different planets, I have noticed equal neglect on all the Cable networks, and I shouldn't even have to point out the silence of what passes for our leaders in this country. So far, the only one that I can see that has bothered to lift a finger is Obama. Bush and the rest of his cabal seems to content to let everyone drown, and then perhaps get the obligatory photo op.

As for the rest of your insults, see my original response. Quite frankly, your opinion of me is about as relevant as the price of Garbanzo Beans.

Now, kindly get out of my face.

[Joe the Revelator]

50. So whats the deal with your crush on the OP?

I ask because I can't think of any other reason for you to get this worked up over either of my first two reponses.

Also, here you:

A. You calling me "as asshole" is not something I feel the need to defend myself against. I do however, feel the need to poke at people who are quite obviously off their rocker(s)

B. See the subject of this post

C. It is the only reason to create this thread; to compare the death of her buddys with the death of Tim Russert. That much is very clear. Also, see the subject of this post.

D. You seem to have given the media a much more important role in our society then they deserve or have ever played. Before 24 hours news, Iowa would have gotten 15 minutes of coverage a night on the network news.

"Get out my face?" What the hell is your problem,kid?

[nadinbrzezinski]

51. You read in that WHAT YOU WANTED

that was a reference to the many blathering posts about how would you feel if somebody close to you died at work...

Well been there, done that... and unlike the media, didn't abandon my post

Now kindly if you have an issue with the media being called on it. I would recommend you get a fringing clue...

They are not that important and increasingly they will become irrelevant... and it is of their own making... and one of the reasons is their covering of SOFT stories, this is the latest, instead of HARD stories that actually matter to people

By the way... what makes him so important to get this coverage while we ignore the dead, the dying and the drowned?

Or is it that the common people don't count in your world?

If he were the President of the country... as in seating... yep, it is done, understandable... but he was just a talking head on Teevee

I say honor the memory... do a special, honor him at the bottom of the hour. Not just drop everything because it is about me, and me feelings, and this is what is wrong with this country...

Read bellow you twit, you will read a story of a family who was forced to FLEE in indiana...

Unrigging unbelievable!

[Joe the Revelator]

55. You talk about the selfishness of the networks...

when I've seen you, throughout this thread, inject yourself and how YOU handle death and disaster into anyone else's opinion on those matters. I don't know anything about, but if this is how you act on all subject, like you are an unmitigated expert of the human experience, then my god you're an insufferable dolt. I hope for everyone's sake that this is a phenomenon isolated in this thread.

The fact remains, that people deal with death differently then you. In fact, I'm willing to go out on a limb and tell you that I have probably had more experience with death then you ( and yes, i realize that you are probably an EMT), but that does NOT make me an expert on how all others should react to the death's that they must go through in their lives. To do so would be the epitome of arrogance on my part, just like judging the folks on MSNBC is pure arrogance on your part.

[nadinbrzezinski]

56. Pot meet kettle

Look in the mirror...

Whatever

It seems to me that you are taking this way too personally... and I wonder why...

[Joe the Revelator]

57. You use silly little cliches instead of actually responding to my post

Keep up the good work.

[nadinbrzezinski]

58. I responded to it, but you see here is the problem

after readying this ahem, exchange. I realized this is about YOU.

So I have better things to do, like actually TRY to help folks... who are in the middle of a disaster area.

So have a good life...

Whatever is your problem, it is not mine

But if it helps, I am sorry for pressing whatever really raw buttons I pressed.

[TheWatcher]

52. Wow, you have limitless childish assumptions, do you not?

A. No, that's not quite it. What you seem unable to address, is that your original remarks were childish and uncalled for. If you need the feel to poke at me or the OP because you are simply an asshole, have a great circle jerk and knock yourself out. As I told you, your opinions are irrelevant to me. You responded like an asshole, you continue to be one, and you've pretty much established that you have no other input for this thread than that end, so by all means, keep going. You'll be talking to yourself, as I have no need to waste anymore time with you.

And you're right, no need to defend yourself against something you clearly wear like a badge of honor. It suits you.

As far as your opinion that either one of us are off our rockers simply because you claim it to be so, that's quite a deluded and enchanted mindset you have. I'm so crushed. How will I ever go on?

B. Again, your mindless assumption, which you cling to in order to justify being a childish asshole to her. Face it, you were wrong in the way you responded, and you're still wrong.

My problem? Irritating jerks like yourself.

Like I said, I'm done with you. If you want to continue honing your asshole skills, jerk away.

I have better things to do.

Now kindly fuck off, and get back to the meadow.

[Joe the Revelator]

53. My opinions are quite obviously NOT "irrelevant" to you....

...because you've spent most of this early evening trying to convince me how wrong my opinion was.

And its funny, that as soon as I mention how childish it is to constantly tell someone to "go fuck yourself" or calling them names, you begin to call ME childish. Thats some dopey Karl Rove bullshit if I've ever seen it.

Go take a drink and calm down chief, I don't want you to suffer the same fate as Russert.

[TheWatcher]

59. Wow......

Here is what your little mind seems so incredibly unable to comprehend.

Now assuming you aren't just slow and merely using selective reasoning, let's review:

Who was the person who originally did the name calling, insulting and attacking of the OP in this thread?

Who was the person who waddled into the thread and slung names and insults to begin with?

That would be YOU. *pats you on the head*

What followed was the response to your original, uninitiated attack, that was leveled for no apparent reason. The delicious irony is that you sit here berating me for name calling and childish behavior, when it was your own immature, childish behavior that arrived first.

As for the rest of your pathetic analysis, Project Much?

Now, lastly, little boy, and let's get this nice and sparkling clear, I'm not your kid, I'm not your chief, I don't drink, and I think I'll do as I please, lest you plan on stopping me somehow.

Now, like I said, continue this debate with yourself.

[Joe the Revelator]

60. Whats really sad is that you are incapable of making a point without resorting to personal attacks

I hope that you are old enough to be in highschool, because if this is your "grown-up" maturity level, god help you.


Edit: Also, this is the third time you've told me that you're done with this conversation, sport, and I have no doubt you will throw your words out the window and reply to me again.

[Bluerthanblue]

23. well, maybe cable TV

is VERY different, we only have a rabbit ear antenna fuzzy reception of a few channels and the coverage of Ted Kennedy's diagnosis, Anna Nichole's death, JFK. jr's tragic plane crash, the Shuttle explosion, Princess Di's death, OJ's trial, and so many other events have elicted much more coverage for many many days following.

And while I fully agree that the flooding is a VERY important story that isn't being covered by ANY of the media in a way I believe it deserves, what difference would the coverage make to the coming cost of food???????????

That "threat"- smart alec comment only serves to alienate people from one another- what is the point???

We should have learned SOMETHING from Katrina- suffering, tragedy, disaster is something no one deserves, and something we ALL should seek to allieviate and work to help minimize.

:shrug:

we are all in this together, like it or not.

peace~

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. Major difference, the coverage of katrina actually allowed the

distribution of disaster teams... (don't get me started on FEMA)

This is being done on purpose

[Bluerthanblue]

30. ?

our perspective of the disaster that still is Katrina appears to be very different.



peace~

[nadinbrzezinski]

37. You are right, mostly I had a somewhat inside look into it

oh well

[LeighAnn]

2. So sorry for your losses :(

:(

You sound like a real hero. Thank you for serving your community and country.

:patriot:

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. As I like to put it, I was just doing my job

nothing more, nothing less

Just doing my job.

But I wanted to point out to all those saying, but can you imagine the shock? Yes, yes I can... here are two real life examples

Of course, after they passed the gallows humor got a little raunchy, but hey... what can anybody expect?

And on a more familiar ground for many... this is why the firefighters kept working in NYC on 9.11.... they were doing their jobs. Just that, nothing more, and nothing less

[roguevalley]

20. I just think friends who were in shock paid tribute. I am sorry for

everyone who dies and leaves sad people behind. Its just that most of them don't have a network.

[Mind_your_head]

3. ANOTHER RUSSERT THREAD???

:eyes:

If you wanted to talk about "Red Cross Roberto", you couldv'e just done so........not necessary to tie it into "Timmeh" It might have been even BETTER (probably yes).

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. No, this is about how a station, the media, has abandoned its post

people die... that is the reality

People who are ALIVE right now, need that coverage.

Oh never mind

It was an EXAMPLE of how PROFESSIONALS handle losses

[Mind_your_head]

12. okay

it's late......will re-read in the morning.

g'nite and sweetest of dreams NadinB. :hi:

[noamnety]

18. Abandoning Its Post sums it up perfectly.

I tried to watch the news the day russert died. I think I watched MSNBC for an hour, a half hour, I forget which, and all it was was a bunch of people mourning the death of a friend, with no national significance to their coverage. Is it of national significance that Russert was a church going man? That he was a good father? No.

I turned to CNN, and there was a short bit of other news, and then they went to their "real" news story - how they as individuals were connected to Russert. This is not news to me that reporter x got her first job from russert, or that reporter Y remembers some anecdote about him. Not news.

The little bit of news I absorbed was that there was a flood in Iowa, and they showed a couple photos, and the flood in Iowa was apparently a minor detail in the backdrop of people who made the news because they once had seen russert tie a shoelace.

I turned off "the news" because it was clear they weren't covering any. The next day, it was like SNL covering General Fancisco Franco still being dead, so I turned the nonnews back off.

What I didn't learn, because they abandoned their post, was that the floods were also in Indiana, where my daughter was staying in a tent. She made it to high ground though their car was totaled - as were all the cars of the people at that location, except one which was parked at the top of a hill. One of the guys she knows had decided to sleep in his car - he woke up as it was being submerged, was able to escape out the window, was caught up in the current and lashed himself to a tree to survive until daybreak.

I am personally pissed off about the networks making the news unwatchable because one of Their Own Privileged Few whose life is clearly more important than us commoners passed away. During the reading of the articles of impeachment, I remember turning to CNN to see how they were covering it. They were discussing hollywood gossip at the time. I can't see how the russertfest is one damn bit different from nonstop coverage of paris hilton - they need to get a grip and figure out the difference between world news coverage and vanity media which focuses primarily on the media itself rather than the real world where most of us live.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. Take care of yourself and I have posted guidelines on water

and how to deal with disaster capitalism as well

Try to make them reach your daughter...

And for the record, if they did a one hour in-memoriam, and five minutes at the bottom of the news, I'd not accuse them of abandoning their posts... that's how most news organizations handle the passing of one of their own. Even here, in the US, some years back

Water

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3441130

American Red Cross

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3441593

Disaster Capitalism

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3455423

[noamnety]

61. Thanks

I'm hoping she has enough sense to know this stuff - I don't have an easy way to contact her. She doesn't use a cell phone or have a landline, she had a laptop for email until that got stolen a couple months ago.

She's done a lot of living in tents without running water or electricity, and she's spent some time doing relief work along the gulf coast, so as much as anything could prepare you for this, I think she's prepared.

[ashling]

5. If Tim Russert was half the professional

that some claim he was or wish he had been, then he would not appreciate this down time from covering the news that is actually important to peoples lives.

I'm sure he would want a good old Irish wake.

[havocmom]

9. Kinda what I think too. His ghost must be wandering the halls, asking

'Don't you people have a deadline?'

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Exactly, and shaking his head on the way to that great tracking booth in the sky

[uppityperson]

7. Friends die. Best wishes to you nadine.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Some folks will get a clue when they have to pay

twenty to fifty percent more for bread

Futures for wheat are already up 20%

When it affects them... only then

[Swamp Rat]

11. k&r

[shireen]

13. thanks for expressing this so eloquently.

i feel the same way as you.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. If we had no flood and people dying and it was a slow news day

fine, have a public wake, but it is not a slow news day

And thanks...

Funny, how even thinking of that, I can feel the kicks again.

[indie_voter]

17. I agree. It's self-indulgent

It's part of the Assault on Reason Gore talks about in his book.

It's a sideshow. Fortunately CNN is picking up the slack. They only mention it once in awhile.

[Bluerthanblue]

22. as much as I understand

what you have expressed so well I have to ask you -
when you you experienced the deaths of in service friends, were thoughts words and memories of them not fore-front in your minds, conversation etc for days after?

My husband was a Firefighter/EMT, and we experienced a few similar events. The thing that doesn't seem to be taken into consideration is that the people who are bringing the news, are among those most effected by Russerts sudden death. Their public grieving may seem overkill to some- but the very nature of their work has been to do just what they are doing.

As for the flooding- I can't deny or express how tragic a situation so many people are going through. Is it 'news-worthy'? ABSOLUTELY- it's FAR more important than any stupid sporting event, off-road race, or 'infomercial'- but those stupid things fill the air-waves.

And no amount of news coverage is going to change the effect that this disaster is having on the people who are living through it.

I do want to ask though. When people speak of the flooding, and in their distress, sorrow and frustration say things like "just wait till no one can afford food" what is really being said????

Is this some kind of coded threat? Can I ask, in all sincerity, what better coverage (and personally I'd appreciate more live coverage)- but how does the airing of Russert coverage- at the expense of the possibility that the air time would be dedicated to the flooding in the mid-west, alter the obvious effect that this disaster is going to have on America as a whole????

maybe I'm just stupid, but I don't get it.

we as people seem to be so quick to fly off the handle- so desperate to find other people/reasons to blame the fucked up state of our lives on- rather than simply trying to be supportive of each other in our individual and communal struggling???

:shrug:

I wish I were Queen of the world, and my magic wand had real powers.

peace~

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. You don't get it actually,

and yes they were part of our conversations in PRIVATE, not when running calls.

The job of the media is to inform you of the consequences of this flood

Let me try to connect some dots for you

1.- Corn should be up to knee high by July 4... its drowning literally. Corn is not only used for your food or mine, but that corn is also used for gasohol and to feed cows, and quite a bit is exported to Mexico, She used to be self sufficient until NAFTA but she's no longer self sufficient in corn, major staple in the diet btw.

2.- Corn futures have already gone up by close to 20%

The same can be said for wheat (exported to other places) and soy, which have gone up by 15 and 12% respectively... before this is over you can expect to pay quite a bit more for necessities at the supermarket, and perhaps to even have a few shortages here and there.

To their credit, CNN has actually has actually mentioned some of this

Other consequences of this.

Quaker oats, you like them? Don't expect to get them anytime soon after whatever is in the supply chain runs out, The factory is in Cadar Rapids. One of their silos cracked, you should know how resistant these silos are... so who knows how much damage there is to the facility. Did I mention they are one of the major employers in the city? See, those folks best case may be back on the job within months, but will see... on and that assumes we do have an oat harvest... given the plants are drowning. That will only add to the recession in the area and the country.

Now some of these harvests, once the water goes down, can be replanted and IF EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT, they'll get a harvest, some they cannot... so that will affect you personally

And it is not a coded message or threat, we in the large cities depend on places like Iowa for our food. It is part of a system, but many city dweller have forgotten that... well class is in session and lets see how many get the point of the lesson that mother nature is about to teach us, whether we like it or not.

Oh and as to them being close to him... sure talk all about it, have a good cry.... but true pros don't suspend the news. Just like my EMS Professionals, we kept responding.

To me that is the difference between a mickey mouse operation, and I tend to follow MSNBC most of the time, than real pros. And it is part and parcel of the dumbing down of the country... PERIOD! The story, as sad as it is to those around him, is what in the news business is called FLUFF... or FILLER.

[Bluerthanblue]

29. well friend- I

am not going to argue with you.

That only spreads the negative- fuels the anger- increases the frustration.

I do 'get-it'- I don't agree with your perspective- but I certianly respect your right to see life from your paradigm.

All the news coverage in the world isn't going to re-plant that corn, unflood the land, or rebuild peoples lives.

Maybe you only considered that you were on the job in EMS when responding to a call- My husband was on the job for 12 hrs at a time, and on call the other 12. What he did while 'on call' was more like what you seem to be describing, but his shifts at the station, doing all the tasks associated with Emergency services aside from going out on calls - maintainance/restocking supplies/dealing with the public and fellow Firefighters- were situations where the talk and grieving was VERY much a part of the job. And even still, work continued in a professional and respectable manner. Just as I believe the news is still being covered in an adequate fashon, and that the public mourning will quiet down pretty quickly.

But that is only this persons perspective, one out of billions- equally valid, equally relevant to your own.

peace~

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. I was the captain, in charge of a company

in charge of 20 + lives

I was also a training officer.

And by the way... I did it for free...

And as I said, my friend, nature is about to teach you a lesson... in how we are indeed in this together.

And why I understand that my duty to others did not end the day I packed the uniform.

Why I have been trying to help, even if only through the web

[Bluerthanblue]

35. as I said-

I don't want to fight with you.

I think most of us do what we do with good intentions. Wanting to help is a good thing- People have different ways of going about it.

I'm sure life- not only 'nature' has many lessons to teach us all yet. Some of them hurt like hell- some kill. All teach, if we will have the courage and wisdom to look back and listen.

Thank you for caring- and I DO sincerly wish you only good.

peace~

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. I'm not fighting, you, whatever

have a good life

[Reterr]

47. You don't actually appear to get what the OP is saying honestly.eom

[Bluerthanblue]

54. well, I'm glad you know what I know

or don't know-

Wish you could explain it to me-
:shrug:
But maybe I'm better off ignorant.

peace~

[lonestarnot]

21. K to the fucking moon and R while it's there!

:applause:

[LanternWaste]

28. Different communities react to death in different ways

Different communities react to death in different ways. I imagine that when my boss's father died and the office was closed for three days would be seen by some as very unprofessional. When I worked in a radiation/cancer center, we'd simply keep working without another thought. I imagine that would be seen as very callous by others.

As for myself, I don't claim to have the Absolute Answer as to what is or is not appropriate. Maybe some do-- but not me, I'm simply not that wise.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. If this was a slow news week by all means

but this is NOT a slow news week

[LanternWaste]

33. Again, I'm the fist to state that I'm not

Again, I'm the fist to state that I'm not wise enough to determine how much mourning and in what form that mourning should be presented. I'll leave that to people who know what, when, how, and why things are appropriate (and I'll hold them to that in their own conduct, too)

Personally, I've been watching the news and have stayed up to date with what's going on in the world, despite the Russert testimonials. Maybe I set the bar lower for what I think is necessary news to be reported.

I don't really have a problem with how it's been handled. I've seen both the late breaking news hitting the airwaves (plus the fluff pieces that aren't news-- but that we never complain about), in addition to a sincere concern for a recently deceased colleague.

I've just never really set the bar very high for television...

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. You must be watching CNN then,

who haven't suspended the news... they just did that for an afternoon

[LanternWaste]

38. I channel surf.

I channel surf.

I simply haven't seen the 24/7 reporting on his death that I keep hearing about. Maybe I haven't searched hard enough.

But that's it for me. You seem to know what the appropriate ways to mourn are--regardless of community or particular situation. I don't. So by all means, defer to yourself as do we all.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. MSNBC has not stopped all weekend

and we do have a major flood.

Just saying.

And I am not saying they should not grieve, but there is hard news going on right now.

But whatever...

[TheWatcher]

41. Such an eloquent post.

K & R.

For your Friend, for those suffering in the Midwest, and for all of us.

[itsrobert]

44. K&R

Goodbye Russert. But you are only one of thousands that died June 13, 2008.